<a href="https://twitter.com/BryanSnider/status/229699443631472640/photo/1">Twitter user @BryanSnider</a> took this photo of a thunderstorm as seen from Maricopa, Ariz.
A deep surge of moisture into the Southwest will fuel heavy thunderstorms across the region early this week, with flash flooding a likelihood in some areas.
The storms, which could impact cities such as Phoenix and Yuma, Ariz., Palm Springs, Calif., and Las Vegas, Nev., through Tuesday, will feature blinding downpours, gusty winds and possibly some small hail.
Normally dry desert locations could get in on some of the heaviest rain, making flash flooding a near-certainty in some thunderstorms.
Storms will be most widespread during the afternoon and evening hours, with activity trending downward after midnight and through each morning.
The setup for flooding and heavy storms is similar to earlier this month around July 13, when Yuma smashed a record by receiving 1.66 inches of rain, with most of it falling over a few hours' time.
With nearly 2.00 inches of rain so far in July, Yuma is at 722 percent of normal rainfall for the month, which is less than a third of an inch. If more storms impact the city through Tuesday, that figure will likely surpass 1,000 percent!
While monsoon moisture typically ramps up this time of year, numerous more rain records will likely fall over the next couple of days.
Locally more than an inch of rain will fall from some slow-moving storms, enough to cause low-lying, street and gully flooding.
The rush of air away from the showers and storms will enhance wind gusts in all directions and could cause dust storms, known as haboobs.
On Sunday afternoon, a dust storm crossed the Phoenix metro area, turning day into night. Meteorologist Erik Pindrock has more on Sunday's dusty encounter in the Valley of the Sun.
Chances for showers and thunderstorms will wane come Wednesday as high pressure builds west into the Southwest from the Plains.
There still will be a shot at some drenching storms into the weekend, but the threat will become more isolated.
Some of the warmest weather of the year will continue across Alaska over the next few days, challenging more records.
Join us on Thursday for AccuWeather LIVE, we will discuss the debate of climate change and hurricane frequency and the top five things you need to know about summer weather.
Warmth is forecast to build over much of the eastern half of the nation by July, with Alaska of all places helping out.
A brief synopsis of the top five worst weather events of last summer.
The storms could affect cities from St. Louis to Evansville, Ind., Louisville, Ky., Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio to Huntington, W.Va.
A tornado touched down at Denver International Airport as a severe weather system moved through the area.
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | N/A | |
| Low | N/A | |
| Precip | N/A |
Philadelphia, PA (1990)
Hail up to the size of marbles fell with wind
gusts to 50 mph in the northeast part of the
city.
Custer Creek, MT (1938)
Cloudburst; 48 killed in a train wreck.
Philadelphia, PA (1994)
Strong thunderstorm winds blew off a large section
of a hanger roof and also damaged two aircraft.
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